The Field Guide

I sometimes find middle grade books, and especially middle grade fantasy books, to be too episodic - this adventure happened, and then this wild chase happened, and then six more adventures, the end. The first volume of the Spiderwick Chronicles series was a pleasant surprise. The characters are realistic, the dialogue is often humorous, and despite many reviewers objections, I think the length of the story (very short) was perfect - if not necessarily for me, then for much of the target audience. Especially those in the target audience that are reluctant to read anything at all.

When siblings Jared, Simon and Mallory Grace move to the country with their mother after their parents' divorce, they aren't sure just what to make of their new home. A rambling old Victorian mansion on a large and wooded property somewhere in Pennsylvania, the Spiderwick Estate belongs to their great-aunt Lucinda, reputed to have gone insane, and is slowly falling into disrepair. Jared, known in his family as a trouble-maker ever since he began getting into fights at school, leads his twin brother and elder sister in a series of discoveries, as they find their great-great-uncle Arthur Spiderwick's hidden library, and then his field guide to the various species of faery. It is only when the siblings actually meet a faery - Thimbletack show more the erstwhile boggart, restored to his more benevolent brownie form - that Simon and Mallory are truly convinced that Jared has been telling them the truth...

The first part of a five-volume work that is meant to be read as one long story, rather than as a series with discrete entries, The Field Guide does an excellent job of introducing readers to the three young heroes, briefly but ably capturing their differing personalities and interests. Fierce Mallory with her talent for fencing, dreamy Simon and his love of animals, and emotionally turbulent Jared, with his openness to new discoveries, all emerge as distinct and interesting characters, despite the brevity of the text. Black also succeeds in making the Spiderwick Estate feel like a real place - one the reader will want to visit and explore. A brief chapter-book for young readers just getting going with longer fiction, this is a book that will also interest older children, given the subject matter and presentation. The artwork, done in pen and ink by Tony DiTerlizzi, is just as engaging as the story, with a quirky appeal that reminded me quite a bit of the work of Chris Riddell - high praise, coming from me! Recommended to young fantasy lovers and children (or adults) who believe in faeries - just be sure to have the second volume of the story handy... show less

Enjoyed these siblings’ personalities, even though Mallory doesn’t feature that heavily in this first book, her stabby nature and unique passion for fencing already have me quite partial to her. Jared takes center stage here, he’s an easy to root for character as he’s accused of mischief he didn’t make and is determined to clear his name.

With a humor tinged plot that zips along, a very short page count, and fantastic illustrations that perfectly match the tone of the story, this is a fun read and would probably be a good fit for reluctant readers.

Adorable. There's actually some complexity to the characters and for a book about fairies it's not all lalala fairies are so wonderful but more ha! doxies and noxies and boggarts will fuck with you! Which is refreshing. I'm really itching to read the others.

Even if they are marketed as children's books- this series is wildly enjoyable no matter what your age is. If you are worried about it coming off 'too young', you'd be wrong. I wish I had gotten into them when I was younger, but honestly- the magic is still there no matter the age. These books are such quick reads (Each one is under 150 pages) that you can finish the entire series in under a week. No wonder this series is such a timeless classic and a top-pick for fantasy readers. I can certainly see why this is one of the flagship titles in fiction. It feels like one of those goal-post/milestone series that every book lover should reach.
Fast-paced, written with passion, likeable characters you want to see grow and develop with along show more the way, charming creatures, and amazing art. This series is not short on a great, engaging, original plot either, filled with twists and with an ending to boot! One of the coolest/funniest ways I've seen a villain defeated! So many other titles aspire to be like The Spiderwick Chronicles. It certainly does cast some large shoes to fill.
I would absolutely recommend this to anyone who has trouble reading or getting into reading, or just needs something to quickly read and be satisfied. This short series (both in length and book quantity) is popular for a reason! show less

When Jared, Simon, and Mallory's mother moves them into their great-aunt's creaky old house, it doesn't take long for strange things to start happening. Mysterious noises in the wall lead the young siblings to find a hidden room and a field guide to faeries. Although contemporary, this book has a nostalgic feel, reminiscient of Edward Eager or E. Nesbit. The illustrations are delightfully detailed, the characters are believable, and the writing is engaging and seems approachable for ages eight and up, although there is a mild expletive parents may wish to note. The book's only quirk is that it ends just as the story really begins, leaving the reader hungry for the next volume in the series.

My darling husband brought me home a pristine set of the Spiderwick Chronicles, complete with box, from a used book store. I've just completed this first one and truly wish these had been around when I was a child. It's full of all the things I loved--a huge ancient house with a secret library, faeries, and a character who loves little animals. Too much fun!